Really: Left-Wing Liberal Label Best Fits Current Republicans

I have been finding it most funny that the Democratic party are being labeled Left-Wing Liberals.

Around here in Ohio, the only major difference between Democrats and Republicans is best summed up in either favoring unions; or favoring management.

"Liberals" -- as in adherents to Liberalism -- is broadly defined as "a political theory founded on the natural goodness of humans and the autonomy of the individual and favoring civil and political liberties, government by law with the consent of the governed, and protection from arbitrary authority*."

This sounds very "Founding Fathers" to me.

And under that broad description, the majority of folks I know, as in those who live within a twenty mile radius of me, have those values and come with equal Republican and Democratic affiliations.

Interestingly, definitions for Liberalism also include: "an economic theory in favor of laissez-faire, the free market, and the gold standard*."

"Laissez-Faire" is defined as an economic doctrine that opposes governmental regulation of, or interference in, commerce beyond the minimum necessary for a free-enterprise system to operate according to its own economic laws*.

In other words noninterference by government in the affairs of business.

Free market is defined as an economic market in which supply and demand are not regulated; or are regulated with only minor restrictions*.

In other words noninterference, or bare bones interference, by government in the affairs of business.

As for the gold standard, I think Ron Paul's people are the only ones who cry for a return to that.

So, is it not interesting that the other two --laissez-faire and free market-- are intensely strong talking points of the current Republican party?

Think about it...

Wait for it...

So doesn't this make the Republican Party a bunch of Liberals?



As for Left-Wing: Left-Wing is defined as the Liberal or Radical faction*. Since I've already pointed out a Liberal connection, let's look at Radical.

Who can say with a straight face that this 43rd administration has not been radical in its policies, attitudes and actions?

Seriously, they have an unabashed and established history of taking radical measures to promote and effect change; and they have been quite proud of it.

With their "we ain't afraid of nothing" and their "do whatever we want" attitudes, it would seem that the Republicans are very aligned with the radical definition assigned to Left-Wing.

The current Democratic message is about less radicalism, more diplomacy, better oversight and providing government that works for the masses.

This is not Left-Wing. It's not really Liberal. It's most accurately called Stewardship; to my way of thinking.

Stewardship can be associated with Liberalism; as in "a political theory founded on the natural goodness of humans and the autonomy of the individual and favoring civil and political liberties, government by law with the consent of the governed, and protection from arbitrary authority."

This current strain of Stewardship, among the Democratic party, is being slanderously mislabeled socialism (which is a political belief generally described by placing the society ahead of, or more important than the individual).

Which also seems to be a strong talking point of the current Republican messages; we are your government: give us what we want, do as you are told, suffer for your country.

Stewardship, not socialism or communism, is the root of our American tradition called Civil Works; which created our highway systems, our airports, our national parks, etc.

Stewardship is found in the ways which a government "for" the people protects, aids, heals and balances the dark side effects which capitalism, monetarism petty fascism and prolotariat politics fosters within every society.

Them's my thoughts.


* definitions provided by The American Heritage Dictionary as hosted on Yahoo.com.


--

23 September 2008

--

Bill's Spirit is an Artist, Writer, Poet, Philosopher currently painting and wordsmithing from a humble studio in small town Ohio.

The works of the man behind Bill's Spirit have been published in small, alternative and amateur presses since 1986. Before that, they just filled notebooks, decorated walls and gathered dust in piles and boxes.

--